Abbot Square MusicFair

Abbot Square MusicFair show features NextStage Productions which specializes in “artful aging" for active adults through classes, performances, and shows designed to maintain health and wellness for older adults, 50+. NextStage Santa Cruz is part of a national network of programs that provide active performance venues for seniors to replace isolation and loneliness.

Show review by retired Broadway performer and NextStage Executive Director, Lynn Knudsen:

“This [event] features 15 performers and three original musical reviews, each different from the other in music styling and interpretation. First, you’ll be exhilarated by the opening number of a variety show called Razzle Dazzle with singing and dancing combined with magic. Young and old kids alike will be delighted.

Next is an imaginary trip through California "Cruz’n " California, along Route 66, and an encounter with the “little old lady from Pasadena.” And you’ll enjoy the hat and cane dance to open San Francisco’s Golden Gates, as done by our NSP Players & Dancers.

We wrap up the program, we call Ageless Arts, with a tribute to The Beatles. Yes, this was our favorite music back in the 1960’s. Our Magical Mystery Troupe will wow you with Beatles favorites like I Wanna Hold You Hand, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Twist, and Shout and other hits from the English Invasion. Don’t miss the show, it’s a revelation."

Performance is Sunday September 29, 2019 from 12:30-2:30pm. For more information about NextStage Productions, up-coming local shows, and classes through Cabrillo College go to www.nextstagesantacruz.org

Listen to your Mother

Join us at the Center Street Theater for a special event honoring motherhood, and giving voice to the real and personal stories of our cast members.

The cast includes local celebrity artists Hannah Eckstein, Karen Schamberg, Geraldine Byrnes, Stan Grindstaff, Phyllis Greenwood and includes, Valarie Arno, Michelle Dias, Marigold Fine, Shari Gallegos, Gretchen Jenne, Lynn Knudsen, Risa Lower, Bobbe Martin, and Chi Cha Russo-Boyes. This quick journey through the lives of our readers is funny, happy, sad, hopeful and all are memorable.

From the creator of Listen To You Mother:
LTYM began when I looked at our national Mother's Day holiday and suddenly found it sorely lacking. I felt that motherhood deserved something more than a frittata once a year  something less retail-related and more community-focused. I wondered if Mother's Day could mean something beyond the celebration of the individual matriarch  something bringing mothers together, recognizing the commonality among us all  moms and non-moms alike. As a blogger and part of an emerging cultural revolution in mothering and self-expression, I wanted my real life community to get a taste of the vitality of the dynamic women drawing inspiration and support from one another online.

Mother's Day remains a holiday by and for mothers, yes, but now LTYM puts motherhood at the head of the table, receiving everyone mothered and all of us mothering as guests of honor.
For me, now, Mother's Day means giving a voice to stories of mothering that both bring us together and expand perspectives. It means sharing these stories locally with live audiences and globally. 

Mother's Day remains a holiday by and for mothers, yes, but now LTYM puts motherhood at the head of the table, receiving everyone mothered and all of us mothering as guests of honor. By Ann Imig, Author

New Artistic Director - Hanna Eckstein

NextStage would like to announce the acceptance of our new staff position of Artistic Director by Hannah Eckstein. She is a successful working actress in film, TV and Theatre.

Hannah's career started in film with Ed Wood directed by Tim Burton. Some of her TV appearances include Molly and Me, Married With Children,The Nanny, Murder She Wrote and in theatre locally, she directed Sordid Lives and starred in Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild at Mountain Community Theater. And we must not forget to mention her hilarious performances in this year's Eight 10s at Eight.

We are so pleased to welcome Hannah to the NextStage Creative Staff. We are planning an exciting year of activities which will include casting three musical reviews, play readings and later in the year casting of our BIG Major Production in Spring 2020. 

Christmas with Dickens

Willing Suspension Armchair Theater And The Dickens Project 

Present: Christmas with Dickens

For Immediate Release

What:       Christmas with Dickens

Charles Dickens just wants to talk about his book, A Christmas Carol, but what happens when Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Mrs. Catherine Dickens, and the Ghost of Christmas Present show up? Chaos, confusion, conflict, and complaints, just like a normal holiday gathering.

Willing Suspension Armchair Theater and the Dickens Project, UCSC, present an original piece written by JoAnna Rottke and directed by Karen Schamberg. Readers will be: Brian Spencer, Frank Widman, Martha Rabin, Susan Forrest, Jim Schultz, and Chris Rich.

JoAnna Rottke spent her best years as Assistant Director of the Dickens Project, a research program at UCSC devoted to the life and works of Charles Dickens. She knows more about Dickens than she’d like to admit.

This event is free, but donations are most welcome and appreciated. There will be refreshments as well as time at the end to ask questions and interact with the author, director and readers.

 When & Where:

Tuesday:         November 27, Downtown Santa Cruz Library at 7 p.m.

Thursday:       November 29, Scotts Valley Library at 7 p.m.

Saturday:        December 1, Watsonville Main Library at 2 p.m.

Tuesday:         December 4, Aptos Library at 7 p.m.

Further Information:

Karen Schamberg:  gillprops@comcast.net

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/263296173771721

 https://dickens.ucsc.edu/news-events/2018/christmas-with-dickens.html

Announcing: NextStage Players Auditions

When: Saturday, October 6, 10am till 2pm

Where: Aptos Knolls MHP Clubhouse     600 Trout Gulch Rd., Aptos 

Messages Voice Mail at 831-316-4833

About the show: Every year NSP Players entertain health care facilities, groups and private parties with a Holiday Show. This year it is titled "A Joyous, Jazzy Christmas," and will be directed by Ethel Lewis, assisted by Risa Lower.

The show usually plays twice a week for 3 weeks in December. This is an open audition, so all are welcomed.

If you are not available on Oct 6, call Risa Lower (831-622-6424) for alternate date.